How to Make Your Own Grip Tape

Written by seth amery

Share

Tweet

Share

Pin

Email

Make your own grip tape. (skateboard image by Tribalstar from Fotolia.com)

One thing skaters enjoy most about the skateboarding hobby is the ability to fully customise all aspects of a skateboard. For example, you can add your own wheels, your own trucks, your own board design and you can even make your own grip tape. Grip tape is the rough, black part on top of the skateboard where you stand as you ride. Commercially manufactured grip tape is just sandpaper with an adhesive on one side to stick to the board. Making your own grip tape is just a matter of having the right tools.

Skill level:

Easy

Other People Are Reading

Things you need

Black sandpaper

Glue

X-ACTO knife

Chalk

Show MoreHide

Instructions

1

Place a large piece of sandpaper on top of your board.

2

Trace the outline of your skateboard with an X-ACTO knife. Leave about half an inch of room on the inside of the outline--grip tape never completely covers the top of the board.

3

Put the excess sandpaper aside.

4

Apply glue to the board; be careful not to add so much that it seeps out of the side or bunches under the sandpaper.

5

Place the sandpaper onto the centre of the skateboard. Apply firm pressure to the sandpaper to secure its position. Allow the glue to dry overnight before using the skateboard. No further care is needed at this point, and you will not need to replace this sandpaper until you decide it's too worn.